UWA handed table-toppers Nedlands their first defeat of the season with a 14-7 win at McGillivray Oval.
The Students were able to hold Neddies scoreless through the first half, showing promising signs in both attack and defence and taking an 11-0 lead heading into the halftime break.
Nedlands looked set to bounce back in the second half, however UWA extended its lead with a penalty goal, putting itself two converted tries ahead of the visitors.
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READ NOWDespite a try from Nedlands winger Brody Lam, the boys from the foreshore were unable to complete a last ditch effort.
UWA opened the scoring after Nedlands was caught infringing at the breakdown, setting up Gareth Walters with an easy penalty shot from 30m out making it 3-0.
Walters added another three points, extending his side’s lead to six points with a kick from directly in front.
UWA ended its strong first half display with a 40th minute try when the backline did well to work the ball within 5m of the line, allowing the ball to be collected off the back of a breakdown and taken across the line.
Gareth Walters was unable to add the extras, which left the score at 11-0 at halftime.
Nedlands came out in the second half looking to get on the board early, creating chances within 5m of its own try line but ultimately unable to convert.
UWA extended its lead with another Gareth Walters penalty goal, this time from 35m out, which put it up 14-0 midway through the first half.
The visitors broke their scoring drought midway through the second half when scrumhalf Michael Ruru collected the ball off a lineout and made 50m of ground before swinging the ball wide allowing his backline to find Brody Lam who crossed the line.
After the converted kick, Nedlands deficit was halved with the score at 14-7.
The game continued as a back and forth affair with most of the play happening around midfield, with UWA doing well to hold on to its lead.
Nedlands looked to pull off a last ditch effort, with a penalty allowing it a kick for touch which set it up within 10m of the try line, but UWA’s defence held on.
Despite the win, Kalamunda bumped UWA out of its top four position due to a bonus point victory over Wanneroo.
Nedlands still sit on top of the table, holding an advantage of two bonus points over Wests Scarborough.
In other results, Palmyra was too strong for Perth Bayswater 40-5, Wests Scarborough powered through Associates 38-10, Kalamunda got the better of Wanneroo 31-12 and Joondalup upset Cottesloe 15-12.